Light fixture for a suspended ceiling



o. s. SUTTER 3, 7

LIGHT FIXTURE FOR A SUSPENDED CEILING March 5, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet lFiled March 8, 1965 March 5, 1968 o. s. SUTTER LIGHT FIXTURE FOR ASUSPENDED CEILING Filed March 8, 19e- S Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 5.507756 March 5, 1968 0. 5. SUTTER LIGHT FIXTURE FOR A SUSPENDED CEILING3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 8, 1965 INVENTOR. 5t 5077;?

' Arrae/r/a s United States Patent Ofifice 3,372,273 Patented Mar. 5,1968 3,372,273 LIGHT FIXTURE FOR A SUSPENDED CEILING Ormond S. Sutter,Placentia, Califi, assignor to Lok- Products Co., Fullerton, 'Calif., acorporation of California Filed Mar. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 437,958 3 Claims.(Cl. 240-78) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A light fixture for suspendedceiling installations wherein a channel is formed along the uppersurface of the reflector to form a wireway which can be adapted foreasily interconnecting a number of fixtures in a line, and furtherincluding a removable light diffuser.

This invention relates to an improved light fixture for a suspendedceiling.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel lighting fixturewhich is readily and easily assembled.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fixture which can beinstalled either individually or in a continuous series.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fixture wherein thelight-diffusing sheet is positioned flush with a suspended grid ceiling.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the followingdescription.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective of the fixture.

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along line 2--2 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along line 3--3 of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of two fixtures joinedtogether.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective with parts br ken away of the cornerconstruction.

FIGURE 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective of the corner clip.

FIGURE 8 is a view taken along line 8-8 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective of the wire way of a single lightfixture with removable tab and knock-out plug. Also shown is a knock-outplug and tab removed from fixture.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the continuous wire waywith two light fixtures joined together.

FIGURE ll is a perspective view of the wire way and clamp that connectsthe light fixtures when used in a continuous series.

The fixture of this invention is particularly adapted to a suspendedgrid ceiling. Such ceilings are well known to those skilled in the artand contemplate a series of parallel longitudinal inverted T-shapedrunners 20 suspended by wires 22. Inverted T-shaped cross runners 24 areconnected by clips 26 forming openings within which acoustical tiles 28are supported.

The fixture has a reflector 30, opposed sides 32 of which rest uponopposed flanges 34 of longitudinal runners 20 (see FIGURE 8). An end cap36 is provided at each end of the reflector and is secured by, forexample, spot welding. Lamp sockets 38 are secured to the end caps 36 bytabs 41 and 43 formed in the cap 36 (see FIG- URES 1 and 8).

The upper surface of reflector 30 has a longitudinal channel 40 formedtherein within which ballasts 42 are secured. A cover plate 44 fits overchannel 40 and is locked in place by tabs 46, thereby forming a wirewayfrom the ballast to the light sockets 38. A protective cover 39 issecured by clips 51 and clips 53 to further enclose the electricalwiring and its connection to sockets 38.

Each end cap 36 has an upwardly projecting tab 48 which seals off theend of the wireway formed by channel 40 and cover 44. When fixtures areinstalled in continuous runs (see FIGURES 4 and 10), they are butted endto end and it is desirable not to have the wireways sealed off. Tab 48is therefore provided with a breakoff crease 55 so that it may bereadily broken away along crease 55.

A spring clip 45 (saddle-shaped) is slipped over the remaining portionof tabs 48, thus holding the fixtures together (FIGURE 10). The cut-awaycenter section of clip 45 has U-shaped grommets 63 to protect the wiringand provide a continuous wireway from one fixture to the next. Ends 47of clip 45 support cover plates 44. A knockout plug 59 is also providedin end plate 36 to permit passage of wires out of the end of the fixturewhen tab 48 is in tact, and opening 49 is provided at each end ofchannel 40 to permit wires to pass from channel 40 down and underreflector 30 to the various sockets 38. Grommets 50 protect the wiresfrom the metal edges of opening 49.

A diffuser 52 is supported within a frame 54 which, in turn, rests oninturned longitudinal flanges 56, on sides 32 of the reflector 30. Theframe 54 is formed of extruded runners 57 having inturned diffusersupporting flanges 58 and outwardly facing flanges 61. The outwardlyfacing flanges 61 of the longitudinal runners 57 are stepped as at 60 torest upon inturned flange 5-6 of sides 32 positioning the exposedsurface of inturned flanges 58 flush with runners 20. Corner members 62fit into a channel 64 formed on the outer surface of each longitudinalrunner 57 and cross runner 65, forming a rectangular frame within whichthe diffuser 52 may be supported. The corner members on one side of therectangular frame thus formed are provided with outwardly projectingtabs 66. Each runner is crimped as at 67 to hold the corner members inplace.

To insert the frame into the reflector, the tab-bearing side is firstinserted as seen in FIGURE 6. The frame 54 is then moved as far aspossible towards one side of the reflector until the remaining sideclears and the frame is then adjusted until the stepped flanges 61 restupon the longitudinal runners 20, flanges 56 and 34. An upturned tab 70(FIGURES 4 and 6) engages tabs 66 of corner member 62 on frame 54, andacts as a hinge and lock to hold diffuser frame 54 in place afterinstallation. Before the frame is inserted in the reflector the diffuserhas been inserted therein and held by a series of spring clips 68 whichare formed to bear upon the upper surface of the diffuser.

While what hereinbefore has been described as the preferred embodimentof this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations andmodifications can be resorted to Without departing from the scope ofthis invention, and such alterations and modifications are intended tobe included within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A light fixture for a suspended grid ceiling of the type havinglongitudinal flanged runners and cross runners, the combination of areflector having sides resting upon opposed flanges of a pair oflongitudinal runners, an end cap on each end of said reflector, achannel formed between said end caps in the upper surface of saidreflectors, a cover fitting over said channel forming a wireway, arectangular frame, a diffuser supported within said frame, said framehaving a stepped flange supporting the diffuser flush with the ceilingwithin said reflector, said frame being formed of four runners havingthe outer face thereof channeled, a corner clip fitting within saidchannels at the corners of said frame, a pair of said corner members onthe same side of said frame having parallel tabs projecting outwardly ofthe end of said frame.

2. A light fixture for a suspended grid ceiling of the type havinglongitudinal flanged runners and cross runners, the combination of areflector having sides resting upon opposed flanges of a pair oflongitudinal runners, an end cap on each end of said reflector, achannel formed between said end caps in the upper surface of saidreflectors, a cover fitting over said channel forming a wireway, atleast one of said end caps having a removable tab thereon forming an endclosure for said wireway, a rectangular frame, a diffuser supportedwithin said frame, said frame having a stepped flange supporting thediffuser flush with the ceiling within said reflector, said frame beingformed of four runners having the outer face thereof channeled, a cornerclip fitting within said channels at the corners of said frame, a pairof said corner members on the same side of said frame having paralleltabs projecting outwardly of the end of said frame.

3. A light fixture for a suspended grid ceiling of the type havinglongitudinal flanged runners and cross runners,

the combination of a reflector having sides resting upon opposed flangesof a pair of longitudinal runners, a rectangular frame, a diffusersupported within said frame, said frame having a stepped flangesupporting the diffuser flush with the ceiling within said reflector,said frame being formed of four runners having the outer face thereofchanneled, a corner clip fitting within said channels at the corners ofsaid frame, a pair of said corner members on the same side of said framehaving parallel tabs projecting outwardly of the end of said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,694,139 11/1954 Zurawski24051.11 2,846,569 8/1958 Frizzel et al. 24051.11 2,888,113 5/1959Schwartz et a1 240-9 X 3,015,721 1/1962 Guth 24051.11 3,019,333 1/1962Pascucci 240-5111 3,264,470 8/ 1966 Bodian 240'78 X 3,268,722 8/1966Nolan 240--9 X 3,281,588 10/1966 Spinneta 2409 X NORTON ANSHER, PrimaryExaminer.

C. C. LOGAN, I. F. PETERS, Assistant Examiners.

